NEWSLETTER

Into the Girls‚Äô Bathroom

Into the Girls‚Äô Bathroom

Can I Please Go to the Bathroom? is a creative short film by Jessie Zinn which stems from issues that came up during research interviews she conducted with school girls from various schools in underprivileged areas in the Western Cape, South Africa.

The audio tapes play their voices over footage captured in the girls’ bathroom and artistic animated scenes as they talk about their gendered experiences that are bound to their school turfs, specifically around taboo topics like having their periods and not being able to afford sanitary pads.

The film gives local context to the pressing, necessary global conversations being had around tampon tax, gender equality, menstrual health, keeping girls in school, and smashing taboos – and the action these discussions is inspiring.

Created in association with the Western Cape Education Department; Rock Girl; and the University of Cape Town.

Directed by Jessie Zinn
Produced by Chase Musslewhite & Jessie Zinn
Animated and edited by Matthew Reeler
Cardboard cutouts and illustrations by Maya LeMaitre
Sound mix by Declan Manca
Gear and equipment provided by the Centre for Film and Media Studies at UCT and Zootee Studios.